The Big Silence
Where there is darkness, there is an immense opportunity for light. The Big Silence aims to normalize conversations around mental health and empower people to turn their challenges into triumphs. Hosted by Karena Dawn – mental health advocate, wellness entrepreneur, co-founder of Tone It Up, and New York Times bestselling author – The Big Silence is creating a safe space to share our story, and for you to share yours. Like so many, Karena has experienced profound grief and trauma. Growing up with a mother diagnosed with paranoid-schizophrenia, her childhood was filled with traumatic experiences that resulted in repressed emotions of guilt, shame, depression, and eventually, a suicide attempt. Though filled with this darkness, Karena was able to find deep joy. And with The Big Silence, she's creating a space for you to find that joy, too. This podcast will feature in-depth conversations with psychologists, spiritual leaders, public figures, friends, and anyone who has been impacted by a mental health condition – either themselves, or through a family member or a friend. Suffering in silence only reinforces the stigma behind mental health issues and builds boundaries that prevent healing. Wherever you are, whatever you're going through, you have a spark of greatness inside of you. No more embarrassment, no more shame, only healing. -- A non-profit 501(c)3, The Big Silence Foundation provides resources and support to anyone directly or indirectly impacted by mental illness. 'The Big Silence' theme song was written and performed by James Nicholas Kinney. Executive Handyman, Bobby Goldstein.
Episodes
What if your anxiety is actually your soul speaking to you? In this episode of The Big Silence, Karena reunites with longtime friends and Almost 30 podcast co-founders Krista Williams and Lindsey Simcik to talk about life transitions, healing burnout, and the emotional power of their first book. From learning to listen to your intuition to rewriting generational body image beliefs, these two best friends open up about the lessons t...
What if your symptoms weren’t “just in your head”? On this heartfelt and hilarious episode of The Big Silence, Karena sits down with Katy and Josh, the powerhouse couple behind the wellness brands Joi and Blokes (now unified under Relon). From four miscarriages and lost sex drives to unexpected weight gain and hormone havoc, they candidly share how their personal struggles with health, marriage, and identity led to the creation of ...
What if the path to true health wasn’t found in counting macros or cutting carbs—but in listening to your body, regulating your nervous system, and redefining your worth? Karena welcomes integrative nutritionist and mom of four, Cara Clark. From growing up in a chaotic home as one of eight kids to building a health empire rooted in faith and intuition, Cara opens up about performance-based love, disordered eating, menopause, and th...
On this episode of The Big Silence, Karena Dawn sits down with singer-songwriter Lindsey Ray — a powerhouse behind the scenes of the music industry with credits including Mariah Carey, Demi Lovato, and Tiësto. But beyond the accolades lies a story of self-reinvention, mental health awakening, and the hard decision to walk away from “success” in search of authenticity. From her childhood anxiety and people-pleasing tendencies to lea...
What if your pain could become someone else’s healing? On this episode of The Big Silence, Karena sits down with rising country star Avery Anna on the eve of her 10th Grand Ole Opry performance. From humble beginnings recording in her mom’s bathtub to signing with Warner Music Nashville, Avery’s journey is anything but typical. But it’s her vulnerability that sets her apart. Inspired by fan-written “Let Go Letters” — anonymous note...
What does it truly mean to live with intention—from the food we eat, to the candles we burn, to how we heal our inner child? This week on The Big Silence, Karena sits down with sustainable living expert and “EcoBabe” Monica Richards for an eye-opening, heart-filling conversation about how sustainability is more than composting—it's a lifestyle of reverence, joy, and healing. Monica shares her journey from a farm girl in Michigan to...
What happens when the pain you’ve been running from becomes the very thing that sets you free? In this moving episode of The Big Silence, Karena sits down with somatic therapist and author Britt Piper to explore the transformative journey from trauma to healing. Britt shares her deeply personal story—of childhood abandonment, sexual assault, addiction, and eventual redemption—and how somatic therapy became the missing piece in her ...
What if your anxiety, gut issues, or chronic fatigue aren’t just “mental”—but messages from your body asking you to slow down, clean up, and tune in? In this powerful episode of The Big Silence, Mona Sharma—a former luxury beauty exec turned celebrity wellness expert—shares her personal journey from corporate burnout and heart surgeries to building an "at-home ashram" for healing. Mona breaks down how unresolved stress, toxic produ...
What if the chemicals in our food, water, and everyday products were silently impacting our mental health? This week on The Big Silence, I sit down with Dr. Aly Cohen, a board-certified rheumatologist, integrative medicine specialist, and environmental health expert, to explore the hidden connection between toxins and brain health. From the rise of autoimmune diseases to how endocrine-disrupting chemicals might be affecting our moo...
Olympic gold medalist Jordyn Wieber Brooks knows the immense pressure of elite gymnastics—where fear-based coaching, emotional suppression, and relentless expectations shape young athletes. In this episode, she opens up about the resilience it took to unlearn those survival tactics and how retiring at just 18 forced her to redefine her identity beyond competition. Now the head coach at the University of Arkansas, Jordyn is reshapin...
What if facing death was the key to truly living? I’m sitting down with my dear friend, Darlene Cordero—founder of Wellness Culture, author of The Healer’s Playbook, and a true force of nature when it comes to uplifting others. After years of success in corporate finance and media, she walked away to pursue a deeper calling—but it wasn’t until a life-altering cancer diagnosis that she truly understood what it meant to live with pur...
We’re breaking the silence on vaccines—one of the most polarizing and complicated conversations in parenting. I’m joined by Dr. Joel “Gator” Warsh, a Board-Certified Pediatrician specializing in integrative medicine, who believes parents deserve open, judgment-free discussions on vaccines, chronic illness, and raising healthy kids. Known for his popular Instagram @DrJoelGator and his upcoming book Between a Shot and a Hard Place, D...
Liz Plosser is back, and she’s stepping into a whole new chapter of life—on her own terms. After two decades in corporate media, including seven years as Women’s Health Editor-in-Chief, she made the bold decision to walk away and embrace the unknown. In this conversation, Liz gets real about navigating career reinvention, overcoming self-doubt, and building momentum when everything feels uncertain. She shares the daily habits that ...
I’m joined by the incredible Ginni Saraswati—Founder and CEO of Ginni Media, award-winning journalist, and podcasting powerhouse. As the driving force behind a thriving production company and host of The Ginni Show, Ginni has dedicated her career to amplifying voices and stories that matter—including her own. In this deeply personal conversation, she opens up about growing up with a mentally ill parent, an experience I know all too...
Here to share how “good stress” can fuel growth and how to combat the chronic stress that drives disease is Jeff Krasno, co-founder and CEO of Commune and author of Good Stress. In this episode, Jeff takes us through his journey—from founding the global festival movement Wanderlust to facing health and identity challenges after leaving the company. He explains how practices like intermittent fasting, cold plunging, resistance train...
Welcome to 2025: New you, old you, but always improving! I’m kicking off the year with my right-hand woman, Deseray Cummings, from the stunning shores of Punta de Mita, Mexico. Together, we share our takes on New Year pressure —breaking down why resolutions can sometimes backfire and how to shift the focus to sustainable habits that truly nourish your body and mind. Spoiler: it’s not about 75-day challenges or burning yourself out!
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At just 16, Elle Kristine is revolutionizing teen dating and addressing mental health challenges with a passion fueled by her own experiences. Recognizing the growing need for guidance, Elle created AskElle, an AI-powered app designed to help teens build social skills, navigate relationships, and access expert-vetted advice. In this episode, Elle highlights the unique pressures teens face today, from confronting damaging and unreal...
Discover the transformative power of your heart brain for whole body harmony with Kimberly Snyder, wellness expert and author of The Hidden Power of the Five Hearts. Kimberly reveals how heart coherence—aligning your heart, brain, and nervous system—can boost your health, emotional intelligence, and clarity. Drawing on groundbreaking research, she explains how this connection improves immunity, hormonal balance, and gut health whil...
Daisy Auger-Domínguez, a workplace strategist and author of Inclusion Revolution and Burnt Out to Lit Up, has dedicated her career to creating healthier, more inclusive workplaces. Drawing from her leadership roles at companies like Google, Disney, and Vice Media, Daisy shares her personal journey through burnout, how it impacted her mind, body, and family, and the tools that brought her back to balance. We explore the true meaning...
Trigger Warning: While the topic of suicide prevention is heavy, this conversation reminds us that even in the darkest times, there is a path forward. My guest, Niyc Pidgeon, is a positive psychologist and author of One More Day. After facing her own mental health battles and losing three close friends to suicide, her understanding of trauma and compassion runs deep. Through her work, she empowers others with tools to navigate hard...
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